koichi tohei - where is he?

I understand this sensei is still alive but I find it very difficult to find out what he is upto currently. Id love to see some recent pictures, DVD's or video clips from the net.

It seems a shame as he is one of the last great students of Ueshiba. Reading his books has been a pleasure and Id love to know what the guy is like in person.

I agree 100% the comment above , its a pity this marvelous teacher doesnt get all the "press cover" he deserves , its certainly quite hard to get updated info about him.

Most recent pictures i've seen about him are in the latest publish of his book "Ki on Daily Life" and an interview in Aikido Journal.

Besides that , not much at all.....Pity.

Yours respectuflly
Ottoniel Ojeda

Check out the Ki Society links.

check here

http://www.ki-society.or.jp/english/

http://unofficial.ki-society.org/General.html

You know it's funny, i've been wondering this myself for awhile. he'd be around 92 years old now wouldn't he?

Craig,

I'm sorry if I missed that, but on the sites you posted I can't trace where Koichi Tohei is now. It says that Tochigi Headquarters which I suppose is the headqurter of Ki Society is now in Ichikai. Should I assume that Koichi Tohei lives there now?
Regards.

I believe Tohei Sensei is around 84. He has been virtually reclusive in the past few years with the exception of a few of his top disciples. From what I understand he has been focused on preparing the way for his son to succeed him and is also very concerned that his top people understand his teachings before his passes on.

Nathan Gidney wrote: You know it's funny, i've been wondering this myself for awhile. he'd be around 92 years old now wouldn't he?

84. He was born in 1920, IIRC.

Best,

Chris

Suren Baghdasaryan wrote: Craig, I'm sorry if I missed that, but on the sites you posted I can't trace where Koichi Tohei is now. It says that Tochigi Headquarters which I suppose is the headqurter of Ki Society is now in Ichikai. Should I assume that Koichi Tohei lives there now? Regards.

The large KNK Hombu complex otherwise known as Ki no Sato is built in his family's ancestral land so it's a safe assumption. It's where he spent his childhood. The entire campus covers about 7.5 acres land. The main 2000 square meter (21,500+ sq. ft.) dojo training hall for Aikido has 520 tatami mat floor. There are group and dormitory facilities with a lounge and dining room. Private rooms for students staying for an extended period of time, Other buildings include the Kiatsu therapy and and training hall, Misogi bathing hall, and the large Meditation hall.

and there is the Tohei ancestral home that was the Chief Magistrate's residence during the Edo period (1603-1868). There are trees hundreds of years old on the land. all quite nice.

Asim Hanif wrote: I believe Tohei Sensei is around 84. He has been virtually reclusive in the past few years with the exception of a few of his top disciples. From what I understand he has been focused on preparing the way for his son to succeed him and is also very concerned that his top people understand his teachings before his passes on.

part of the reason for reclusiveness is for health reasons as he had suffered a stroke and spent some time in the hospital and then at home recuperating. I talked to my teacher about this in some detail the last time he visited our dojo because he had just been back from seeing him in Japan. Tohei Sensei has no intention of stopping till he drops but he doesn't travel now. People come to see him.

and yes he is very focused on his son, Shinichi Tohei Sensei, whose Aikido was very good the first time I met him a few years ago and gets even better every time I see him. My impression that he has recieved a lot of training on how to teach also.

Hi Craig,

Have you been to this complex? It sounds wonderful!
Ron

Yes Craig. I spoke to Shaner Sensei not too long ago and he said the Shinichi was progressing well and has a lot of support and mentoring at Ki HQ.
I was able to interview Shaner Sensei over a period of about 3 days and he said some very interesting things in regards to Tohei Sensei and the future of the Ki Society.
Maybe Jun can post the interview if I ever get around to transcribing it. The interview took place around the beginning of this year.
For those that don't know, David Shaner Sensei is the Chief Instructor of the newly formed Eastern Ki Federation and a longtime Tohei Sensei disciple.

Ron Tisdale wrote: Hi Craig, Have you been to this complex? It sounds wonderful! Ron

No, all my teachers have been there many times so I have seen a lot of pictures and heard a lot of stories, but I really missed my chance to go back in 1996 to train with Tohei Sensei there when I was a young punk no-nothing nikkyu and my teacher was spending all summer there. I regret not going just for the experience. I would have liked to have trained with Tohei Sensei when he was coming over in the 1960's and 1970's to the US and hanging out at people's houses and drinking them under the table but then I would have to be an old fart now That's when Shaner Sensei was following him around the country like he was the Grateful Dead.

There are some really great teachers in the States that go every year (often more than once) that I can train with here who have long personal relationships with Tohei Sensei - Clarence Chinn Sensei, David Shaner Sensei, and of course Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei.

That's fortunate as my money pit of a this old house has been sucking hard on my finances. I keep telling my self, it's a great neighbhorhood.
For now, I am concentrating on bringing the training here.

Asim Hanif wrote: I was able to interview Shaner Sensei over a period of about 3 days and he said some very interesting things in regards to Tohei Sensei and the future of the Ki Society. Maybe Jun can post the interview if I ever get around to transcribing it. The interview took place around the beginning of this year. For those that don't know, David Shaner Sensei is the Chief Instructor of the newly formed Eastern Ki Federation and a longtime Tohei Sensei disciple.

Yes, please do. That would be interesting. As a teacher, Shaner Sensei is a very articulate speaker and I always enjoyed his classes that I have been able to attend. I hope sometime to be able have him visit Texas. I like students to be exposed to as many different good teachers as possible.

Asim, Jun, if you post that interview with Shaner Sensei, could you point out the place please?
Thanks.

The story my senior instructors like to tell about Tohei sensei is of him walking calmly across the dojo to administer the high-rank ki tests, and projecting so much presence and ki that the hapless candidate would be ready to dissolve onto the floor by the time he arrived. Having seen his student Kashiwaya sensei do this, I can well believe it. It reminds me of the time that I first saw the 300 foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River: I hadn't known about it until we walked down the riverbank and saw the river suddenly vanish. My heart nearly stopped, even though I was in no danger.

Mary Kaye

Actually the thing I admire most about Koichi Tohei has nothing to do with aikido.

Most people know about the brutality of the Japanese army occupation of Asia during World War II. At this time, K. Tohei was a colonel in charge of a Chinese town. Most people know this.

What most don't know is he went back to this town several times after the war. He was invited back as a guest-of-honor for their founder's day celebration.

hi guys,

During this year's Ki Society world camp, we had the opportunity to be introduced to koichi tohei sensei personally, although he did not teach. Although he seemed quite weak, you couldn't call him frail - seated and silent, he still had a tremendous aura and energy. He observed us during training on a few occassions - I can only hope he liked what he saw in this generation of aikidoka. As far as what he is doing now, I think he confines himself largely to ki development, and does not practice much aikido.

It was my first time at Ki no Sato, and it was an amazing experience - the facility has an infectious energy about it: very positive ki! Situated in the countryside of rural Japan (though oddly enough, opposite a 7-11), they hold seminars almost every other week. The facility itself is excellent - a great deal of thought has gone into it, I think. Two training areas, including a mat-space that I've heard (though not confirmed) is the largest in the world, as well as a smaller dojo that is used for local classes. Something like 200 beds, dining facility, and beer & sake vending machines not 10m from the mat! If you ever get the chance to visit, do!

I also visited with Tohei Sensei briefly in late July while at Ki no Kenkyukai. Mentally he is 100% there which is very good. When I was there last year he had not recovered as much yet so it was encouraging to see the improvements made.

Shinichi Tohei Sensei is a wonderful teacher. His English has also improved though it was excellent last year too.

Its a very nice place to train at. The staff there take very good care of you and the dorm rooms are very comfortable. They sure feed you a lot while you're there. Great food too. The next world camp will be in october I believe.

Jeff Baldwin wrote: I also visited with Tohei Sensei briefly in late July while at Ki no Kenkyukai. Mentally he is 100% there which is very good. When I was there last year he had not recovered as much yet so it was encouraging to see the improvements made. Shinichi Tohei Sensei is a wonderful teacher. His English has also improved though it was excellent last year too. .

IS Shinichi Tohei going to do seminars in Europe and the USA any time soon?

Peter Strafford wrote: IS Shinichi Tohei going to do seminars in Europe and the USA any time soon?

Planning Las Vegas 2005. Have not heard anything about Europe.

Peter Strafford wrote: IS Shinichi Tohei going to do seminars in Europe and the USA any time soon?

As Ted Ehara mentioned, he should be coming to the 2005 summer seminar in Las Vegas. I believe they are still working out much of the details on that particular event though.

As for travel to Europe that is something that only he (Shinichi Sensei) can answer for you. I know that he is aware of Europe and the circumstances.

Curtis Sensei will be traveling to Germany and the Netherlands in October of this year for a few weeks to conduct seminars.

Ted Ehara wrote: Actually the thing I admire most about Koichi Tohei has nothing to do with aikido. Most people know about the brutality of the Japanese army occupation of Asia during World War II. At this time, K. Tohei was a colonel in charge of a Chinese town. Most people know this. What most don't know is he went back to this town several times after the war. He was invited back as a guest-of-honor for their founder's day celebration.

I would question the validity of this statement. If Koichi Tohei was born in 1920 and the war ended in 1945 that would make him a Colonel in the Japanese Army (a pretty high ranking position) at the end of the war at the ripe old age of 25. Understanding that war times breed quick promotion, but given that, it is still incredibly too young for such a post. Nice story though, and I don't doubt that Tohei Sensei has been honored quite extensively and most deservedly, but still....

Jeff Baldwin wrote: ..<snipped>...Shinichi Tohei Sensei is a wonderful teacher. His English has also improved though it was excellent last year too...<snipped>.

As I understand, Shinichi Tohei and the current doshu of Aikikai are first cousins. Is there a possibility of both of them coming together for a joint demostration and training seminar (a goodwill/charity event) for all their students worldwide, say, every four years somewhere in the world?

Pranin sensei or Jun - care to organise this?

Regards

David Y